# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1849 01 09_S80
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

80

In the joyful hope that the LORD will crown with blessing the words of His faithful servant, we close with the saying of Sirach: Think not thyself wiser than the elders; for they also have learned it of their fathers. For of them thou shalt learn how thou shouldest answer, when need requireth. Sir. 8, 11. 12.

The Brother Orator.

Also into the Steinthal in Alsace, where at that time the blessed Oberlin labored as pastor in full blessing, there came in the terrible times of the French Revolution the order of the government: The usual divine service should cease, the people of the Steinthal should choose themselves a president, he should appoint a Brother Orator, and then meetings should be held on certain days, at which the Brother Orator should speak against the tyrants and consult with the congregation about the means of abolishing the tyrants. Even in the Steinthal there was probably at that time no lack of individuals to whom this new thing seemed quite seductive, novel and alluring, and who would gladly have joined in and imitated what the great nation set before them.

The pastor Oberlin therefore let his congregation assemble under the linden tree. He read to them the letter that had arrived and added that this was the order of their Welsh (so the French were called in the Steinthal) government, and since the authorities commanded it, one must also obey. He thought it good to proceed at once, this very day, to the necessary preliminary deliberations. First a president must be chosen, and since he, as the former pastor of the place, might for today perhaps once more take the right to say his opinion first, he gave his vote to the former schoolmaster of the place and proposed him as president. The schoolmaster indeed demurred somewhat at this election, but Oberlin soon persuaded him to accept it, and so the election of Brother Schoolmaster as Brother President was unanimously confirmed by the peasants. Now it was the president's turn to appoint someone from the midst of the assembly as Brother Orator. And who was better suited for this than the former pastor Oberlin! The election was confirmed with loud shouts of applause from the assembly.

"Now the question is," said Oberlin, "which house and which day we shall choose for our meetings (clubs)? The house of the Brother President has only one large room: the schoolroom. But scarcely half of us can get into it, especially since the women also will gladly want to listen; in the former parsonage the space is likewise small, and so I know of no more suitable house in the whole Steinthal for our clubs than the former church." — The peasants gave their general approval to this. — "As for the day of the meeting," said Oberlin, "Monday is unsuitable, because many then go to market at Strasbourg, and likewise Wednesday and Friday. But I should think that the most suitable and convenient day for our meetings would be the former Sunday, and indeed preferably the forenoon, from nine o'clock on." — The peasants also gave their general approval to this.

When now the peasants came into the church on Sunday, the Brother Orator was standing near the altar on the level ground. "What think ye," he said to those assembling, "would it not be better if I stood on the former pulpit; we are too poor here to have a special speaker's chair made for us, and from up there you can see and hear me better." The peasants approved this.

The new Brother Orator now mounted the pulpit. He drew the order of the government out of his pocket once more and read it aloud. "The Welsh," he said, "want us then to speak against the tyrants and to consult about their abolition. Tyrants in olden times were such and such, and they did this and this. Here in our quiet Steinthal we indeed have no such tyrants, so it would be vain to speak against one. But I could nevertheless name and describe to you tyrants that dwell not merely in the Steinthal and in your houses, but even in your hearts. And against these tyrants (murder, adultery, fornication, lust of the flesh, and all ungodly conduct) I will therefore speak here, as I will also name and describe to you the best means of abolishing these tyrants, which is none other than the salvation offered in JESUS Christ."

When the pastor had spoken for a time, he said: "Would it not be better for me and you to sing one in between? And indeed, since we know no other songs, from our former hymnbook such and such a psalm well known to you all?"

So the peasants sang and prayed peacefully and contented in God with their pastor, and many good souls from the surrounding country, who liked this kind of meeting and what was spoken there better than those clubs which were held in other places, gathered about Oberlin and his people of the Steinthal and found refreshment and comfort there in the time of that great outward and inward distress.

G. H. v. Schubert (Altes und Neues).

Hymn for the Feast of the Holy Three Kings.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. 2 Peter 1, 19.

Thou who in the night of death,
Christ, didst appear, a bright light,
In the palace of Herod
I sought Thee and found Thee not.
Found only splendor and vain show,
Lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh,
Yet after Thee my longing remained
Unstilled, and empty my breast.

Further, to the scribes
I went, seeking my LORD,
But from the wise and the perverse
Jacob's star was hidden.
True, they spoke like the blind
Of the light that had arisen,
But among them I could not
Find the Redeemer.

From the temple I saw shining
Sacrificial fire and splendor and light,
I could divine the One here,
Yet Himself I found not.
And when I had sought the LORD of life
Thus in thee, Jerusalem,
Up and down in vain,
I journeyed forth to Bethlehem.

Went the road lonely onward,
For it was so still and empty,
No wanderer for a guide
Found I far and wide around.
But above my head
I saw a star's shining;
Because I sought, because I believed,
The Savior became mine at last.

Seek only, and thou shalt find,
Only grow not weary and faint,
Let nothing bind the longing
Which God has awakened.
Follow only without striving
Full of faith the Word of the LORD;
Light from above will lead thee,
Light from above the star gives. Spitta.

Preacher Wanted.

Since with the 1st of January of the coming year the German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Congregation here will be without a preacher, the clergymen applying are herewith informed that they have to give their trial sermons between the 21st of December and the middle of February of next year, on the condition that the candidate present good testimonials as an Ev. Lutheran preacher, and must also belong to a Lutheran synod, or promise to join one, and undertake to keep school. Travelling expenses will not be refunded.

The salary was formerly $200 without perquisites and school fees. Those who are interested are asked to apply to the undersigned.

Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.,
the 21st of December, 1848.
F. Wilhelm Deuker
H. Heinrich Schowe
Chairmen.

Received
for the building of a church of the "First German Ev. Lutheran St. Paul's Congregation" in Chicago, Ill.

Through P. Röbbelen from Lutherans in Medina Co., O. $8.00.
Through P. E. Brauer from the Ev. Lutheran Congregation at Addison $7.00.
Through P. Crämer from Lutherans in Saginaw Co., Mich., $4.79 and $2.21.
Through P. J. Seidel from the German Ev. Lutheran St. John's Congregation U. A. C. at Neudettelsau, O. $4.00.
A. Selle, Pastor.

Received for the Seminary at Fort Wayne:
From the German ev. Lutheran Congregation U. A. C. at Lancaster, O. $3.19
From the Luth. Trinity Congregation in Fairfield County, O. 2.38
From the St. James's Congregation 1.51
From Mr. P. Richmann 0.92
Total $8.00
D. W. Sihler, P.

Received
for the Lutheran mission on the Cass River in Michigan:
$3.80 Unknown.
$1.00 N. in St. Louis.
for the Synodical Mission Fund:
$1.50 from Mr. Schaap.
$1.00 Anonymous.
$1.00 Buttermann.
$1.45 Anonymous.
$2.00 from the Lutheran congregation in Pomeroy and Chester Township, Meigs County, O., through Mr. P. Habel.
$103.80 from congregation members in St. Louis.

Paid.
For the 3rd and 4th volumes Mr. P. H. Isensee.
For the 5th volume the Messrs. Adam Ambrosius, Mich. Benz, Ellinger, Georg Eckert, Dan. Göglein, Herrling, Christoph Hamm, P. J. F. Isensee (2 copies), Georg Rasp, Wendel Scharf, Mich. Wessa.

Printed by Arthur Olshausen,
Publisher of the Anzeiger des Westens.